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Enoch Dobson 11" submitted 11/21/2008 Submitter clawhammerist (see all reviews from this person) Where Purchased from maker Year Purchased 2008 Price Paid Don't Remember historic exchange rates / currency converter Sound In looking for a "road" banjo that possessed as much of the sound and aesthetic of my original but fragile H.C. Dobson Silver Bell as possible, I quickly became aware of Kevin Enoch's new Dobson line. A few days spent with his prototypes--11" and 12" both--was all it took to convince me that Kevin had come up with the answer to my search. Both banjos sounded great, but it was the 11" that to me best captured the unique tonal qualities of my old banjo. (It is interesting, I think, to note that the original Dobsons were never made in sizes larger than 11", even though they had many larger contemporaries; perhaps, then and now, this tone ring works better in a smaller diameter.) This instrument has most of the richness and warmth of my old Dobson, but with a certain sparkling finish to its tone. In spite of being a fundamentally mellow instrument, it has loads of definition and none of the muddiness that comes to mind when one thinks of dark-sounding banjos. It is not an incredibly loud banjo, but it is far louder than its vintage equivalent, and thus better suited to more situations. I find it very easy to finesse whatever volume and tone I want out of this instrument; in other words, it has a most expressive and multi-dimensional voice (as do the old Silver Bells), and its sound could suit players of diverse tastes. Sound Rating 10 Setup The scale length and neck profile that Kevin had chosen was already almost identical to those of my old Dobson. Kevin took detailed measurements of that banjo's action, and took care to set the neck of this new instrument in such a way that the action over the head and the base of the neck were comfortably high for the right hand as it is on my other banjo, but the action in the fingerboard's midrange (say, between the 7th and 12th frets) was low enough for easy fretting and good intonation, unlike my old standby. These factors made it immediately easy for me to get comfortable with this banjo. I asked Kevin to install a skin head, as we both felt that this setup would bring out even more of the sound I was after than the Renaissance-equipped prototypes did. He acquired a very high-quality calfskin, and as we suspected, its sound it just great. It also seems surprisingly stable, unlike the very thin skin head on my old Dobson; I haven't yet had to adjust its tension, regardless of changes in humidity, and I have noticed precious little sinking or tightening on its own. Setup Rating 10 Appearance This particular banjo is the first in a small series of "limited edition" Dobson models that Kevin intends to produce. While it is structurally identical to his standard Dobson, it features some cosmetic upgrades. Kevin added some of his signature inlay work, with gorgeously engraved and colored abalone position markers of various shapes at the usual frets, and a breathtaking giant star in the peghead. He also came up with a design for a brass plate at the end of the fingerboard that extends to about an inch over the head, a feature that came standard on the original Dobsons. The overall appearance is one of subtle beauty. Appearance Rating 10 Reliability While the banjo is still too new for me to comment extensively on its reliability, I can say that it has performed brilliantly so far. I have used it on stage without a backup and without any worry, and it did not let me down in the least. I intend to bring this instrument with me on the road, particularly when I have to fly and cannot bring more than one banjo. At this point, I see no reason to believe that it will not do everything that I need it to do in performance and workshop situations in a totally dependable manner. Reliability Rating 10 Customer Service Kevin is an excellent businessman who has provided me with great customer service, both while building the banjo and since. His unparalleled attention to detail made for very smooth dealings. I am confident that if this banjo required service, Kevin would be willing and able to help. Customer Service 10 Components The tuners are very smooth and precise. All of the rim hardware is uniform and seems substantial. I particularly like the round bracket hooks and fancy nuts. I see nothing that needs to be changed out for something "better." Components Rating 10 Overall Comments I highly recommend Kevin's Dobson line, particularly in the 11" version, to anyone looking for a high-quality, reasonably-priced, modern banjo with a unique voice. This instrument is exactly what I had been hoping to find: a perfect marriage between the sound and feel of my beloved antique banjo with the durability and reliability that only new instruments can always provide. I would replace it in an instant (with one just like it) if it were stolen if it were stolen or damaged beyond repair, something that I would not be able to do if I continued to only play my vintage Dobson, and a clear benefit of buying new. Overall Rating 10